Time for RiverDogs to re-evaluate expectations

May is setting up to be a tough month for the Charleston RiverDogs with a better grade of opponents on the horizon and the injury bug making itself at home in their clubhouse.

The bottom line is Charleston enjoyed one of the best Aprils in team history at 20-6, but the team that finished the month in no way resembles the team that started it and might not again until much closer to June. With that in mind, it's time to re-evaluate expectations and realize that the RiverDogs are — at least temporarily — just an average team trying to protect an elite record.

The latest homestand showed a lot of cracks in the foundation, particularly in defending against the run. Columbus and Augusta came into Riley Park with teams that like to steal, and the Charleston catchers did little to slow either team down. The two teams were successful in 22 of 24 attempts over the course of eight games. Other teams with speed have to be checking their schedules for the next time they play the RiverDogs.

The next three weeks are a critical time for rebuilding the team that began the season with such dominance.

The first step will be to get Jairo Heredia back into the pitching rotation. Heredia has missed two starts with an upper-body injury. His 2-0 record and 3.48 ERA isn't spectacular, but he makes an excellent third starter behind Zach McAllister and Dellin Betances. Without him, Lance Pendleton went from solid middle reliever to struggling starter. He's given up six earned runs in six innings during his two starts, and the rest of the bullpen gets heavy use when there's no starter eating up innings.

The next step is regaining the thump in the lineup that made the RiverDogs' batting order one of the toughest in the league. First baseman Wady Rufino has been missing since he took a pitch off of his hand last week. His run-producing abilities have been missed. Because the injury wasn't bad enough to put him on the disabled list, Rufino should return quickly — as soon as the swelling goes down in his hand. He still leads the team with four homers and had 17 runs batted in when he left the lineup.

The other key component missing from the lineup is third baseman Bradley Suttle, who was hitting .320 when he re-aggravated a hip flexor strain that caused him to miss more than a week. He likely won't return until the end of May because the Yankees are expected to err on the extreme side of caution in making sure he is fully recovered from the injury this time.

Until that happens, the RiverDogs have to hope another big hitter emerges to help fill the gap. That person might be Brian Baisley, who hit .341 in 25 games last year before tearing a quadriceps muscle. He homered in consecutive games on Friday and Saturday and could be the answer as he gets comfortable playing again.

Beyond that, the RiverDogs as a team are going to have to dedicate themselves to playing better defense. It's not as if they are intentionally making errors, but each game seems to show off how much the teenagers in the lineup need to learn in pressure situations. The errors on the scoreboard are only part of the equation. They have eliminate the mental mistakes where they throw to the wrong base or miss baserunning signals or come to the plate with little or no plan on how they are going to attack pitchers and advance baserunners.

They are about to hit one of the most significant parts of the season as they try to set themselves up for postseason play. Between May 7-19, they will face first-place Asheville eight times. That stretch will likely determine who will win the Southern Divisions' first-half title to earn a spot in the South Atlantic League playoffs.

How quickly they can shore up their roster will be the key to all of it.

Angelini comes back

Hopefully, there will be no scarier moment this season than watching shortstop Carmen Angelini get beaned in the back of the head by his own teammate while standing on second base.

On April 26, Angelini turned his back on center fielder Abraham Almonte to watch Almonte's throw to home plate when Almonte tried to make a last- moment adjustment and threw wild. The throw nailed Angelini from close range.

"At first, I didn't know what happened," he said. "I was real dizzy — bewildered. I was more mad that I had to come out of the game."

Angelini went to a local hospital, checked out OK and missed a few games. On his return, he was moved from the No. 8 spot in the lineup to second, likely because the 2007 10th round pick pocketed a million-dollar signing bonus and the Yankees tend to like seeing their investments get plenty of at-bats. Whatever the reason, Angelini was comfortable with the move.

"I'm actually more used to that. It's where I hit all through high school," he said. "It's good because I get to see the pitchers a little sooner."

As for his return, he didn't think it would be necessary to wear a fielding helmet like former major league first baseman John Olerud.

"I don't think they even make shortstop helmets," he said.

Reach Bill Henley at 937-5595 or bhenley@postandcourier.com.